John:

Well, it may take some practice on my part, but I'll certainly give this a 
try.

I do have some thin solder here that may be good for this purpose.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 6:53 AM
Subject: Re: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax


>I use those connectors all the time and that coax does have stranded center
> conductor, I know what you mean. I usually take some thin low melt solder,
> rap it around the exposed center conductor a couple times and take the
> soldering gun and keep going back and forth on it. That way as the solder
> melts you're spreading it along the conductor and it makes the nicest job
> you've ever seen after a little while of doing it. If you don't do that 
> you
> end up with globs but I find going back and forth eliminates that and the
> strands will stay together and it makes a better connection when you 
> solder
> the connector.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:34 PM
> Subject: Tinning the center conductor of RG8X coax
>
>
>> Hi, all.
>>
>> I'm making up some coax jumpers with some extra RG8X coax that I have, 
>> and
>> the crimp-solder PL259 connectors I bought several years ago from Joel at
>> The RF Connection.
>>
>> These connectors are the type that you thread the center conductor 
>> through
>> the pin of the connector, and solder it to the connector tip.  You then
>> crimp the shield to a small metal sleve that goes over the front portion
>> of
>> the connector body.
>>
>> The RB8X cable I'm working with has a multi-strand center conductor, and 
>> a
>> few of the strands seem to want to bend in on themselves, and therefore
>> touch the connector body.
>>
>> My thinking is that the way to avoid this issue would be to tin the 
>> center
>> conductor strands prior to inserting them into the center of the 
>> connector
>> and out the pin end.
>>
>> Does anyone have a relatively fool proof way to tin the multi-strand
>> center
>> conductor with solder and a soldering iron?
>>
>> Still in learning curve mode here, but one of my goals in life continues
>> to
>> be making successful PL259 coax connedctions independently, and I don't
>> give
>> up easily.
>>
>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>